Kid’s Acting Academy slated for July 31-Aug. 4

SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ

Staff Writer

sjordan@timesrepublican.com

T-R FILE PHOTO
The Marshalltown Community Theatre’s third annual Kids Acting Academy Summer Camp will be held July 31 through August 4, with class sessions available at 8:45 a.m. or 1 p.m. each day, at the Martha-Ellen Tye Playhouse, for youth ages 7-14. Pictured are youngsters from last year’s camp performing a kids’ version of “Guys and Dolls.” This year’s performance will be “Into the Woods.”

Aspiring thespians will soon have the opportunity to attend the Marshalltown Community Theatre’s third annual Kid’s Acting Academy Summer Camp, held July 31 through August 4, with class sessions available from 8:45-11:45 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. each day, at the Martha-Ellen Tye Playhouse, for youth ages 7-14.

“At the camp, we will be doing sessions on acting, improvisation, theatre tech, makeup, set construction and costumes,” said Vanessa Engel, who will serve as the camp’s director.

As part of the activities, the participants will rehearse and then perform the musical “Into the Woods,” which is the same show the MCT will be putting on the weeks leading up to the camp.

“We will be utilizing the play’s set and props for the campers to use,” Engel added.

The campers will perform a one-hour long junior performance of “Into the Woods” on Friday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. These performances will only be open to friends and family.

The musical, which was made into a popular film of the same name in 2014, merges the plots of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales.

The camp will be led by MCT alumni and certified teaching instructors, Engel, Lauren Williams, who will be doing art activities with the students, Bill Roberts, who will be teaching the improv class, and Laura Stansberry, who will assist Engel with the co-directing and planning.

“It’s an amazing, unique day camp experience where kids can develop their talent in a safe, fun-filled group environment,” Engel said.

The cost is $55 per camp participant.

Because the MCT is a non-profit organization, it is always looking for donations to purchase props, costumes, supplies and to help fund the summer camp.

“There is no amount too small. We are always in need of supplies, funds for royalties, as well as helping out students who may not afford to come to camp,” Engel said.

Space is limited. Registration forms are available at Lowe’s Flowers and on Marshalltown Community Theatre’s Facebook page. Forms and donations can be mailed to: Marshalltown Community Theatre, Box 923, Marshalltown.

For more information, contact Engel at: 641-751-1094 or vanessaengel123@gmail.com

MCT’s summer musical “Into the Woods” will be performed July 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m., July 23 at 2 p.m., and July 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and July 30 at 2 p.m. at the playhouse.